“I didn’t do it,” stated the small ginger-haired man, “I was just passing by, and I saw him there on the floor.”

The Judge looked down his long nose, adjusted his glasses and said, “But Mr Tilden, your prints are all over the knife.”

“Well yes,” announced the defendant, “I pulled the knife out of his chest and tried to stop the bleeding.”

“But the man was dead,” said the Judge, “ he died instantly. The knife in question was a kitchen knife and the police report it comes from your house.”

“Coincidence, your honour,” replied the man, “those knives are a dime a dozen. You’ll find them in many a kitchen.”

“I doubt,” retorted the Judge, “you’ll find many with your name engraved on it.”

“That’s a coincidence as well,” explained the small ginger-haired man called Phillip Tilden.

“I think,” said the Judge you had best rethink your story, Mr Tilden, there appears to be a lot of evidence against you.”

“Circumstantial, your honour. I wasn’t there, I didn’t do it, I state I am being set up.”

“By whom?”

“By evil forces within this very courtroom,” announced the accused, “look around your Honour have you ever seen a more guilty lot than those in this courtroom today?”

There was a moment’s silence as everyone cast his or her eye around the courtroom.

Eyes met eyes, eyes looked away, in the opposite direction, some eyes stayed down avoiding contact, but one pair of eyes stayed focused on the judge.

“Your honour,” announced the accused pointing at him, “ I accuse you of this murder. You had it in for the victim, you stalked him, you were seen outside his house on numerous occasions, I have evidence to show you, and you alone made his life a misery such that on the night of the 5th you stabbed him with a knife you stole from my kitchen.”

“Absolutely preposterous,” cried the Judge, “I am a Judge of the court, why would I kill this man?”

“You coveted his wife. You’d made several attempts to organise assignations, but she repelled everyone. You thought if her husband was not around you’d move right in,” said Tilden now sure of himself.

“Alright, I admit it. I killed him, the sod had it coming. He treated his wife abysmally, I did everyone a favour.”